Did a negligent trucker cause your Iberia Parish traffic accident? You could build a case against the trucker and their employer to recover monetary damages for your medical bills, injuries, car repairs, and other losses.
A New Iberia truck accident attorney from our personal injury law firm will meet with you to discuss your legal rights and options for compensation. We believe victims of commercial vehicle accidents deserve a fair settlement based on their expenses and losses. We are here to help.
Seeking Financial Recovery Based on Your Truck Accident Claim
Our attorneys typically start down the road to recovering compensation for our clients by filing an insurance claim against the truck driver, trucking company, or another liable party. First, we build support for the claim by investigating what happened and proving negligence. Then, we document the client’s recoverable damages, which often include:
- Medical bills
- Future care costs
- Lost income and benefits
- Reduced earning ability
- Vehicle repairs or replacement if totaled
- Pain and suffering
If we cannot recover monetary damages through negotiations with the insurance company, suing the liable parties might become necessary.
You Can Also Pursue a Wrongful Death Claim after a Truck Accident
We also represent families who lost a family member to negligence accidents. We could pursue a case against the trucker and trucking company under La. Civ. Code Art. 2315.2. This statute allows immediate family members to recover economic costs and monetary damages for their intangible losses.
For a free legal consultation with a Truck Accident lawyer serving New Iberia, call (337) 446-4571
Liability in Tractor-Trailer Accidents in Louisiana
Louisiana has fault-based traffic accident laws, meaning a crash victim can hold the driver or another party who caused the collision legally responsible. To do this, you must prove negligence occurred.
For example, imagine an 18-wheeler hit you from behind at a red light. To show negligence, you would need evidence to document:
- The truck driver had a responsibility to stop at the traffic light.
- They failed to brake and stop before reaching stopped traffic.
- Their failure to stop caused a collision.
- You suffered physical, financial, and psychological harm.
These same four principles—duty, breach of duty, causation, and damages—apply in any personal injury case. The negligent party is also liable for the injuries and losses that occur. However, this is not the end of the story in commercial vehicle accident cases.
Trucking Companies May Also Have Liability If Their Driver Causes an Accident
In Louisiana, a legal doctrine known as respondeat superior applies to these cases per La. Civ. Code Art. 2320. This law allows those injured to hold the trucker’s employer legally liable as well. Therefore, we often file claims and suits against trucking companies and other large corporations on behalf of our clients.
Going toe-to-toe with a trucking company and their team of lawyers is not something most people want to manage without an advocate on their side. We can manage your case from beginning to end while you focus on your physical recovery.
When Is a Lawsuit Necessary in a New Iberia 18-Wheeler Collision Case?
Most cases do not require us to sue, and even fewer ever go before a jury. Personal injury trials are relatively rare when compared to the number of injuries that occur each year. Most trucking companies have sizeable corporate liability policies covering injuries typical in a minor or moderate crash.
We can often negotiate a settlement that fairly compensates our client. However, a lawsuit may be necessary when:
- The insurer denies the claim
- The trucking company blames you for the crash
- The deadline for filing suit is about to expire
- The insurer will not provide an appropriate payout
If we cannot reach an acceptable agreement before the deadline to sue, we will need to begin this process. You may have as little as one year after the accident under La. Civ. Code Art. 3492 for injuries and La. Civ. Code Art. 2315.2 for wrongful death. Exceptions could alter this timeline, including giving you less time to act.
Click to contact our New Iberia Personal Injury Lawyers today
Morris Bart, LLC, Represents Truck Accident Victims in New Iberia
If you suffered injuries because of a negligent trucker or their employer’s actions, you should not let them or their insurance company intimidate you. They may try to get you to say things that hurt your case or downplay your injuries or financial losses. We encourage you to let us handle your case from the start.
When we represent a client hurt in a truck crash, we do not back down. Instead, we prove negligence, identify the liable parties, and develop a claim to recover money for them. As a result, we won more than 6,500 cases for our clients in 2019.
Some of our recent case results in Louisiana traffic accidents include:
- $852,845 in a car accident settlement in New Orleans
- $650,000 for a drunk driving crash in Monroe, LA
- $550,000 in a Shreveport, LA, hit and run collision
- $475,000 for a New Orleans accident
We Offer Complimentary Initial Consultations at Our Lafayette Office
We serve New Iberia from our Lafayette office—one of 15 that we operate, serving all of Louisiana, Alabama, Arkansas, and Mississippi.
We provide complimentary consultations, allowing us to help victims understand their rights and legal options without worrying about paying money upfront. We also work based on contingency fees. Our clients never receive a bill. We only charge attorney’s fees if they receive a payout.
Talk to a Lawyer from Morris Bart, LLC, for Free Today
You can reach the Morris Bart law office and speak with a lawyer from our team for free today. Our truck accident attorneys provide free assessments and explain your options to you in a language you understand. Let us evaluate the strength of your claim and go to work for you if you are ready.
Connect with our Lafayette office now by dialing (337) 446-4571.
Questions?Call (337) 446-4571
to find a Morris Bart office near you.
